Daventry started the game the better of the two sides, and dominated proceedings for the opening 30 minutes, with Corby’s former Cobblers goalkeeper Paul Walker forced into good saves from Ashley Robinson and Nat Liburd.

But it was Corby who led at half-time thanks to an individual effort from Josh Moreman.

Daventry made a stirring start to the second half and Walker had already been forced into another excellent stop from Liburd before they equalised on 52 minutes, Callum Burgess heading home Neil King’s pinpoint free-kick.

Daventry’s tails were up briefly, but it was Corby who gradually took control.

The Steelmen restored their lead when another ex-Cobblers man, Greg Kaziboni, showed blistering pace down the right wing to set up Ryan Semple for a simple finish, and then Paul Malone was allowed a free header from a corner to wrap things up eight minutes from time.

“For the first 20 minutes or so I thought we were very good, and we had three really good chances and we should have taken them,” said Foster.

“If you don’t take those chances against good teams then you will get punished for it, and Corby punished us.

“They have a lot of pace, hit us on the counter, and they killed us with the first and second goals, it was pure pace.